Debris Removal

The Sonoma County Consolidated Fire Debris Removal Program has two phases: removal of household hazardous waste and removal of other fire-related debris.

Phase I: Household Hazardous Waste Removal

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will inspect your property and remove any Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) that may pose a threat to human health, animals, and the environment such as batteries, asbestos siding, and paints. Review the progress of Phase I. Phase I of the Program is required for all residential properties.

Phase II: Debris Removal and Property Clean-up

The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and local officials are coordinating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to conduct fire-related debris removal from your property. This will include removal of all burnt debris, foundations, hazardous trees, and some soil to ensure the site is clean and safe for building. Phase II debris removal by USACE is optional. (DEADLINE FOR OPTION 1 HAS PASSED) The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District (USACE) has established a Debris Removal Information Line for property owners affected by last year’s devastating wildfires in Northern California. The number for the USACE Debris Removal Information Line is 877-875-7681.May 16, 2018, is the last day USACE will accept new debris removal complaints via its phone line and email. Residential property owners who are registered for the government-sponsored debris removal program can also e-mail: USACESupportToSonoma@usace.army.mil

Option 2: Private Debris Clean-up

Property owners who do not qualify for, or who chose not to participate in, the Sonoma Consolidated Debris Removal Program, must hire a private contractor to remove fire debris and clean up their properties.

A Private Clean-up Application form must be submitted to the County of Sonoma or City of Santa Rosa, depending on location of the property, prior to the commencement of work. Private debris removal is done at the homeowner’s expense and must meet or exceed the standards set by local, state and federal agencies. This includes compliance with all legal requirements for disposal, authorized disposal sites, best management practices for activities on site, proper transportation and documentation of waste, and erosion control.

City of Santa Rosa & County of Sonoma Informational Mailings

For more information on debris removal choices, click below:

The period to apply for the Sonoma County Consolidated Debris Removal Program closed on Monday, November 13th, 2017.

If you have circumstances that prevented you from submitting your Right-of-Entry form by the deadline, please call 707-565-6700. Late Right-of-Entry form submissions will be considered on a case by case basis for inclusion in the Program.

Refer to the document below to learn about the types of debris that are eligible and not eligible for removal.

Right-of-Entry Permit Checklist for Property Owners

Sonoma County Environmental Health and the Public Works Department are working with CalOES and other federal and state partners in a program to facilitate safe removal and handling of burn debris and ash. To obtain this service a homeowner must complete the proper paperwork to allow these agencies to clean up their property.

Documents needed for submittal of the Debris Removal Right-of-Entry Permit:

Insurance Policy

If the home is insured please bring a copy of the homeowner’s insurance policy. Especially important are the declaration page and the debris removal coverage page.

A copy of your insurance policy is needed because it contains a section outlining your debris removal coverage. Per CalOES part of the right-of-entry and debris removal process includes securing insurance reimbursement for the agencies if any is available after a homeowner rebuilds.

Application Process is Subject to Change

The County is working diligently with agency partners to finalize this process. Additional requirements may be necessary at a later date to complete the right to enter application process.

For non‐residential structures less than 120 SQFT, fences, and non‐structural wood material, no work plan is required so long as the structures contained no paint, pesticides, herbicides, propane, or other similar hazardous substances, and so long as the requirements listed in the document below are followed. This exemption does not apply to parcels with asbestos or parcels that the EPA has flagged as potentially not cleared of household hazardous waste (HHW).

Deadline to apply is Wednesday, November 22, 2017.

Due to the public health emergency, property owners are required to clean their property of all ash and burn debris in a timely manner. If property owners choose not to participate in the Consolidated Debris Removal Program described above (or if their properties are ineligible for the program), they may undertake the clean-up at their own expense with work performed by qualified personnel as set forth in the documents below.

Landfills Accepting Ash and Debris

Contractors or individuals need to contact the facility prior to delivery to confirm facilities are currently accepting waste. Click here to view the list.

Health Screening Level Guidance

The summary tables in this document provide updated health screening level guidance and cleanup goals for the Sonoma County Complex Fires Alternative Program. Click here to view the document.

I submitted a Right-of-Entry (ROE) form but now I want to cancel, what do I do?

To cancel a previously-granted Right of Entry Permit, this cancellation form must be signed by the Owner(s), and either delivered to the Sonoma County Environmental Health at 625 5th Street, Santa Rosa CA 95404, or emailed to EHROE@sonoma-county.org as a signed PDF. Sonoma County Environmental Health must receive this form on or prior to November 22, 2017.

All owners who signed the Right of Entry Permit must sign this request. Phone-in and verbal cancellations cannot be accepted. Cancellations can only be accepted up until the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers attempts to notify the property owner 24-48 hours in advance of Ash and Debris Cleanup (as described in the Right of Entry Permit). Please note that the Director of Environmental Health may deny requests for cancellation after November 22, 2017 (the deadline for private cleanup application submission).

Health Screening Level Guidance

The summary tables in this document provide updated health screening level guidance and cleanup goals for the Sonoma County Complex Fires. Click here to view this document.

What to do if you are in the Debris Removal Program and want to sell your property

If you are in the government sponsored Debris Removal Program and intend to sell your property then you and the proposed buyer need to execute a Consolidated Debris Removal Program Affidavit form. Signed copies must be returned to Environmental Health at:

625 5th Street

Santa Rosa, CA 95404

If the affidavit is not fully executed the property will be removed from the Debris Removal Program and it will be the owner’s responsibility to remove the debris.

The affidavit requirement does not apply after debris removal is finished and the property owner has received a Certificate of Completion from the County of Sonoma.

Debris Removal Right-of-Entry Processing Center

The County of Sonoma is operating a Debris Removal Right-of-Entry Processing Center at the Department of Health Services building in downtown Santa Rosa. Environmental Health staff will be on hand to assist residents with filling out the appropriate paperwork for the debris removal program.